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Indiana’s IceBreaker Wake Fest is set for May 21-22

Event History:

(words by Jeigh Krupp)

The Ice Breaker started out in 2006 as a way to not only kick off the wakeboarding season in Indiana, but also to provide a way for riders to meet new people who share a love for the sport. The event took place on a frigid rainy day in late April. It was thought that nobody would even look at the water, but after five boats were filled up with wakeboarders, we realized that we were wrong. Even with the adverse conditions, more than fifty people of both riders and spectators took to the lake to make the best of the time on the water. The event was a great success leading to scheduling the event the next year.

In 2007, the Ice Breaker would take on a whole new meaning. In March of that year, Della Krupp, the mother of the Ice Breaker co-founder Jeigh Krupp, passed way from a 13 year battle against breast cancer. She was a school teacher of 25 years and a unique person who had a passion to touch the life of every student in one way or another. This did not stop at just students, anybody who had the privilege to meet her could tell that she was a very special person.

A short time later, cancer once again touched those involved with the Ice Breaker. Lucille Weaks, loving grand mother of co-founder Zach Lear also lost her battle with cancer. Lucille was also a very special person who touched may people throughout her life. Cancer took her away too soon!

With the loss of Della and Lucy in the hearts and on the minds of Jeigh and Zach, the Ice Breaker evolved. The American Cancer Society was contacted about doing an event to raise money for cancer awareness. With the love of wakeboarding and drive to do something special , Zach and Jeigh teamed up with The American Cancer Society and Relay For Life to turn the Ice Breaker into a cancer benefit to “Crush the Ice for Life!”

In 2010, we are looking to do BIG THINGS! We have moved the site of the event to Bixler Lake Park, a 530 acre city park on the east side of Kendallville. The park completely surrounds 117-acre Bixler Lake. The park provides unique opportunities for outdoor recreation with camping, fishing, two beaches, picnic

shelters, softball fields, basketball and tennis courts.

We are bringing the Wake back to Bixler Lake! The Ice Breaker Wakefest 2010 will have ski boats on Bixler Lake for the first time since the 1960’s!

Whether you have been rippin it old school since the Skurfer days or are just now trying figure out how to tighten up your bindings, the Ice Breaker Wakefest 2010 is for you. We will start the wake festivities at sunrise Saturday morning with some footin’ and slalam skiing for the early risers. Dry Dock Marine will be providing a 2010 Ski Nautique 200 to allow riders to rip through the slalam course in the early morning hours.

As the daylight hours burn, so will the fuel as we put up the towers and fill up the fat sacks. Right around 9:00 am, Dry Dock Marine will be showcasing the Official Towboat of the Ice Breaker Wakefest, the Super Air Nautique 230 along with its little brother the Super Air Nautique 210. You will be able to launch off the wake of either of these boats throughout the day. Never tried wakeboarding? That’s ok! We will have new gear to try out from Gator Boards, Slingshot, and Hyperlite. We will also have riders with years of experience that will have you up and shredding before you can say FACEPLANT!

In between the open ride times, Team Hyperlite and Team Nautique rider Adam Wensink will be putting on a show by spinning 7’s and 9’s until you’re dizzy along with massive super man front rolls. You may just be the lucky one he points out in the crowd! Also, Vert and Slingshot regional rider Jon Klein will be tearing the trex off the Ice Breaker Rail and showing what flex is all about!

The wake events will wrap up in the early evening hours with our conclusion of our silent auction and our wake raffle. We will be giving away boards from both Gator Boards and Slingshot who have kindly stepped up once again to support our cause, Among other wake gear we will be giving away, our grand prize giveaway is a custom built winch by BNS Customs.

The greatest part of the day, we are doing all this in an effort to FIGHT CANCER! So mark your calendars for May 21-22 to come out and shred the virgin waters of Bixler Lake and fight cancer at the same time!

For more information check us out at

www.icebreakerwakefest.org or on Facebook at Ice Breaker 2010.See you there!